Sub-titled 'Why Our Lives Depend on Dark Skies', we embark on an illuminating journey to unveil the wonders of our night skies and the havoc wreaked by light pollution. Today light is all around us, all of the time, and the Milky Way is now completely lost to over one third of the global population. There is no other habitat we have degraded more than our darkness. Darkness is now beyond the reach of everyone except those with the privilege of travelling to Dark Sky places and starry night skies, such as countries found deep in the Northern Hemisphere. Step back in time and discover the electrifying story behind the invention of Edison's light bulb to the modern-day reign of bright lights that bewilder our planet's wildlife. The author uses her personal experience and career to show why nighttime is something for us to protect and not be fearful of. We travel to the realm of dreams of ancient myths inspired by the constellations, understand why scenes captured by some of the greatest artists can no longer be witnessed in the same way today, and learn how the animals we share our world with are unable to hide under the cover of darkness. The ancient oak is no longer able to support the nesting birds and insects and no squirrels hunt for acorns. Even the tree itself is suffocating from the light that clings to its canopy. Interspersed with inspiring stories from cultures all over the world, the book is both a celebration of the star-speckled blanket above us all, and a call to reclaim the night, one light switch at a time. 298pp.
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